Whether or not you should have a podcast & how you can get on others’ as a guest

How to get started with your own podcast: from tech to tone of voice

How to create a quality show that keeps listeners coming back and that attracts sponsors.

Skip being overwhelmed with the technology, vendor selection, branding, or lack of growth by hearing valuable insights from podcast expert, Helena Harris as she dives into the world of podcasting. Join #NIMRI for our first event of the year, Podcast like a PRO: Get going, get listeners & grow your brand! on Thursday, January 31, 6-8 P.M.. at Parlor Bar & Kitchen in Newport, RI.

Don’t miss this FREE opportunity to hear how you can grow your brand with podcasting!

Meet Helena Harris

Helena has been in marketing for over 25 years. As a native New Yorker who relocated to New England after college, she had high hopes of saving the world as an Environmental Public Policy Advocate. She quickly learned, however, that changing the world first requires getting people to listen. It wasn’t long before a new career in marketing & communications began; first in software and finance, then in the equestrian industry. Sparkle and Boom began in 2003 as a design and development firm building e-commerce websites. The company evolved over time, and now specializes in podcast production. Helena has been hosting and producing podcasts for 10 years. She co-founded the behomoth Horse Radio Network (with over 7 million unique listeners), and then started her own network which currently produces 4 shows: That Newport Show, Around the Buoy, Discovering Happiness, and Stall and Stable.

Top 8 Marketing/Monetizing Tips

1. Soliciting Sponsors: The emphasis should always be on the content you’re creating. “Write it, and they will come,” said Priscilla sagely, “Produce high-quality content, and they will come.”

The Official “Work with Me” section of We3Travel’s About Page

2. Doing Business With Brands: There are a few ways a blogger can work with a brand: being contacted by people to place ads, contacting people to place ads, sponsored posts, or, if you’re lucky, a sponsored trip.“If I work with a brand or do a sponsored post, it has to be something I believe in. Once your audience doesn’t believe you, you’re done,” Priscilla warned.

“Native Advertising, which is when you have content that is already successful and then work with advertisers who would complement that content, can work very well,” said Lillie.

3. Navigating Negativity: It can be very difficult to figure out what to do when you have a bad experience as a blogger, particularly if the trip is a sponsored one. It is especially tricky because, depending on the country’s laws, you could potentially be sued for a negative review. “Contact the PR people and be sure to start with the positive things and then talk about the disappointments,” advised Priscilla, “I always give them a chance to fix it. If they do, I won’t write a bad review. If they don’t, I will offer to not write about it.”

“Steer away from negative content, even though it can be very effective. Everyone gets fired up over a bad review and they like to share it, but it doesn’t reflect very well on you and can get you into trouble,” offered Lillie.

4. Create a Community: “Facebook has become a pay-to-play platform. You can pay $5 to promote a post (and I do that sometimes), but you won’t see a big difference in your analytics. What’s really powerful is to form alliances and private Facebook groups, not just with other travel bloggers. People who like wine, food, lifestyle, even interior design share readers. The cross-pollenization that happens helps everyone grow,” Priscilla said.

5. Know Your Worth: “It depends on your reach and your demographic,” reasoned Tamara, “I have a group of travel blogger friends, and we share that information.”

“This is why you need the group mentality!” proclaimed Priscilla, “Building your blogging network is key. Whatever you do, don’t write a post for someone for free – it brings the rate for everyone down to $0. You’re time is worth something.

“I would argue that there is a value in giving content to high-traffic sites, so it can be OK to do something like that for free as long as there is some ROI. It’s a value to your resume,” Lillie said.

“The Tail Wind app is great for automating Pinterest,” shared Tamara, “Paying a little for the right tools can be worth it.”

“Google trends is an invaluable SEO tool,” said Priscilla, “In WordPress there is a feature where you can try a bunch of different options and put them in Google Trends to see where you are in searches.”

Snapchat! If you want to learn more about using Snapchat as a blogger, check out AdventurousKate

8. Socialize, Socialize, Socialize (your media, that is): “Learn and get busy on all social media sites and thank everyone who follows (NOT by direct message),” Priscilla advised.

“The biggest mistake people make is to just stop for an extended period of time on social media,” Lille said, “Be consistent and don’t be afraid to self promote!

Top 3 Travel Tips

“Use Trivago or another trip-cost comparison site to look for the lowest fare. Then, take a screenshot and call the hotel. They will always match it, and it’s always better to book through the hotel because they tend to have a better cancellation policy and you also will be eligible for upgrades,” advised Priscilla.

Whether you’re in it for free stuff & trips or to build a following or engage influencers, in between amazing trips, a panel of travel bloggers shares:

How they travel for free to exotic locales like South Africa and Iceland?

How they got started?

Do they really make a living?

Adapt their insights to your industry:

Working with sponsors and brands

Negotiating to get better deals

Using SEO and social media to build your brand

Benefits and downsides of doing what you love

Meet Priscilla Pilon aka Weekend in Paris

Priscilla Pilon (left) in the Alps, travels the world but is an admitted Paris addict. She is the Publisher of The Weekend In Paris as well as the Travel Editor for The Daily Basics, a contributor for Upscale Living Magazine, The Daily Meal, and Travel Squire.

Meet Tamara Gruber of We 3 Travel

We3Travel is designed to inspire families to explore the world by providing tips, reviews, destination information and sample itineraries. All to make family vacation planning easier.

Since 2013, this family of three has been showing parents how, with a little planning and preparation, they can take kids anywhere — and have fun! From the cathedrals of Europe to the rainforests of Costa Rica to the battlefields of Gettysburg we are raising a global citizen, one trip at a time. We3Travel was recently named one of the Top 20 Family Travel Blogs in 2015 by Holiday Lettings (a TripAdvisor Company).

Meet Lillie Marshall of Around the World “L”

Lillie launched Around the World “L” in 2009, which has been consistently selected for Top 100 Travel Blog rankings since. The site uses vibrant photos and engaging writing to feature a wide range of voyages, from solo budget trips to luxury family travel, now that Lillie has a young son. Also, Lillie is a public school teacher in Boston, and runs TeachingTraveling.com, a blog that interviews “Teacher-Travelers.” Lillie has one of the largest social media followings of any teacher in the world! Her travels just this past year have taken her to Turkey, Ireland and Quebec.

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https://newportinteractivemarketing.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/Priscilla-Pilon.jpg228306Suzanne McDonald/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/logo.pngSuzanne McDonald2015-07-16 15:57:242018-09-24 21:53:03Travel Bloggers’ Secrets You Can Use